joseph gordon levitt

‘7500’ Is a Suspenseful, Must-Watch Thriller

Forrest Hartman

Vollrath makes the most of the confined setting -- something that could hurt a weaker filmmaker. In some respects, 7500 must have been easy to produce. A single location, small cast, and minimal set dressing all speed the shooting process, but these things come with restraints. When all the action is set in an airplane cockpit, there are no astonishing backdrops or special effects to use as a crutch. The weight of the storytelling is relegated to the script and its handful of actors.

‘Don Jon,’ ‘CBGB’ Arrive on Home Video

Forrest Hartman

In recent years, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has proven himself to be one of the film industry’s most talented young actors. With “Don Jon” he demonstrates that his skills extend beyond performance. Gordon-Levitt wrote and directed the movie, and he also plays the title role, proving capable in every capacity. The picture focuses on Jon Martello (Gordon-Levitt), a good-hearted, New Jersey player whose friends call him Don Jon as a nod to the legendary Spanish libertine Don Juan. 

‘Looper,’ ‘Cosmopolis’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

Time-travel films are fraught with complexities that leave thoughtful moviegoers debating merits and flaws long after the credits roll; and “Looper,” written and directed by Rian Johnson, is one of the strongest entries we’ve seen in years. The movie is set in the United States in the year 2044. Time travel has not yet been invented, but a select group of criminals know the technology will arrive in just three decades. 

‘Arbitrage,’ ‘The Words’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

Perhaps the greatest compliment one can bestow on a thriller is to call it Hitchcockian, and “Arbitrage” – written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki – would fit nicely in the Alfred Hitchcock catalogue. The movie’s power comes not only from the fact that it keeps viewers in suspense but from its carefully drawn lead character, Robert Miller (Richard Gere). Robert is a powerful hedge fund manager with an aura of complete confidence, yet viewers sense his vulnerability when he’s alone. 

Subscribe to RSS - joseph gordon levitt